Ask and It Is Given by Esther Hicks Summary

Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks is a comprehensive guide to the Law of Attraction and manifesting desires through deliberate thought. Published in 2004, the book presents teachings allegedly channeled from a nonphysical entity called Abraham, explaining how thoughts create reality and offering 22 practical processes to apply these principles. It teaches that by focusing on positive feelings and desires rather than lack, individuals can attract what they want into their lives.

Esther and Jerry Hicks are the authors and teachers behind the Abraham-Hicks material, which popularized the Law of Attraction concept. Jerry, who passed away in 2011, was previously involved in motivational seminars and Amway, while Esther claims to channel wisdom from a collective consciousness called Abraham. Since 1986, they traveled to approximately 50 cities annually conducting Law of Attraction workshops, building a following through their interactive seminars and publications.

Ask and It Is Given is ideal for individuals interested in the Law of Attraction, personal transformation, and manifestation techniques. The book appeals to readers seeking practical exercises to shift from negative to positive thinking patterns, especially those raised with fear or negativity who want to feel more grateful and empowered. However, readers must be open-minded about the channeled material claiming to come from nonphysical entities, as this unconventional premise may not resonate with skeptics.

Ask and It Is Given is considered a foundational text in Law of Attraction literature and influenced The Secret, making it valuable for understanding manifestation philosophy. The book offers practical processes beyond theory, with readers reporting tangible results including attracting jobs, relationships, and achieving specific goals. While the channeled source material may challenge some readers, those who focus on the practical wisdom find it life-changing, though skeptics criticize the lack of transparency about Jerry Hicks's Amway and motivational seminar background.

The Law of Attraction, as explained in Ask and It Is Given, states that whatever you focus attention on through thought or desire becomes reality. Esther and Jerry Hicks present this as a universal law that is never contradicted, emphasizing that thoughts attract corresponding experiences into your life. The book clarifies that people often focus on the lack of what they desire rather than the desire itself, which is why manifestation fails—you must align your feelings with already having what you want.

Abraham is described as a collective of nonphysical beings or spirit guides that Esther Hicks claims to channel during seminars and while writing. According to the book, Abraham made contact with Esther in 1985 to remind humans of universal laws governing reality, including the Law of Attraction. The entity communicates through Esther when she enters a meditative state, providing teachings about manifesting desires and understanding how thoughts create reality, though this channeling claim remains controversial among readers and critics.

Ask and It Is Given contains 22 practical processes or exercises designed to help readers apply Law of Attraction principles to manifest their desires. These processes include techniques like the "Rampage of Appreciation" exercise, the "wouldn't it be nice if" reframing tool, and the $100 wallet exercise. The processes guide readers to shift their vibrational frequency from negative to positive by focusing on better-feeling thoughts, helping bridge the gap between current reality and desired outcomes without creating resistance or doubt.

Ask and It Is Given (2004) significantly influenced The Secret film and book released in 2006, with Esther Hicks's material serving as inspiration for The Secret's core concepts. Esther and Jerry Hicks had been teaching Law of Attraction concepts for 20 years before The Secret popularized them to mainstream audiences. While Esther was originally featured as an expert teacher in The Secret movie, the Hicks' work remains less commercially successful, partly because their channeled source material from Abraham puts off some potential readers who prefer The Secret's more secular approach.

Ask and It Is Given emphasizes that feelings are the key indicator of what you're truly manifesting, not just your conscious thoughts. Esther and Jerry Hicks teach that if you feel negative, irritated, or anything but joyful, you're focusing on what you don't want rather than what you desire. The book instructs readers to pay close attention to how they feel and use emotions as guidance—you should envision yourself already experiencing the happiness of having what you desire, creating alignment between your emotional state and your intentions.

The core message of Ask and It Is Given is that humans are co-creators with universal Source energy who can deliberately manifest desires by aligning thoughts and feelings. Esther and Jerry Hicks teach that there's no predetermined fate—you shape your reality through the Law of Attraction by focusing on what you want rather than lack. The book encourages readers to become "happy with what you are and what you have while being eager for more," maintaining optimistic anticipation without impatience, doubt, or unworthiness to receive desires.

Ask and It Is Given faces criticism primarily for its claim that Esther Hicks channels wisdom from nonphysical entities, which skeptics view as either a hoax or spiritually problematic. Critics also point out the lack of transparency about Jerry Hicks's background as an Amway distributor who previously taught positive thinking using Napoleon Hill's work, suggesting the Abraham material may simply be repackaged motivational content. Some readers find the book's promises unrealistic and question why the Hickses aren't more commercially successful if their teachings truly work as claimed.

Ask and It Is Given provides a structured framework for manifestation through understanding universal laws and applying 22 specific processes to shift your vibrational frequency. Readers report successfully attracting jobs, relationships, trademarks, and other specific desires by following the book's guidance to focus on positive feelings and what they want rather than lack. The key practical application involves monitoring your emotions as guidance, visualizing desires as already fulfilled, and using exercises like appreciation rampages to maintain alignment between thoughts and desired outcomes, creating a consistent energetic match for manifestation.